Formula One changed the way it was operating in the last few years when Mercedes had their claws deep in the game. But since 2021, their dominance has taken a hit, and they are now struggling to keep up with Red Bull. It will be a challenge for the team because, for a very long time, they were their own competition. But now Red Bull has taken the lead, and they do not seem to lose it so easily. Meanwhile, Mercedes and Toto Wolff continue to struggle to build the car that would bring them to the top again.
Wolff has always been a motivated figure with realistic expectations. He knows that they have made mistakes with their cars, and it can take them a while before they finally claim the top spot again. Therefore he is not making any claims that are not possible to achieve and setting low expectations for the Mercedes fans. He also took a low-key approach to the celebration when Lewis Hamilton secured the podium in the Australian Grand Prix. Looks like he does not want their fans to get carried away with a win at the beginning of the season
What Has Mercedes Planned For The Major Upgrade?
There is no doubt that the team will have to bounce back really hard and fast. With such prestigious history attached to the brand’s name, they can not afford mediocrity in any season. Thus Toto must keep looking for better solutions to make his cars cross the finish lines. As per their realistic future plans, Toto Wolff said that they are not liable to make their first upgrade of the car until the end of May. But once the upgradation starts, they will follow a consistent flow with improvements.
“But there is no such thing as a magic bullet that transforms the car, and it’s about being realistic with your expectations,” asserted Toto Wolff. It looks like the team principal is hoping to calm their fans down till another season. They have accepted that even if they make the changes to their car, it will not be fast enough. But since it’s Mercedes, it will have to keep improving. At the end of his interview, he said, “We need to consolidate our understanding, and hopefully, over the next few races, we can make another step.”
Toto Wolff Talks About W14’s Pace
Since the new season has begun with the new aerodynamic rules in the frame, Mercedes have only won one race, and that too last year. And after completing the three races this year until now, they are sitting in the middle of Aston Martin and Ferrari. So, Toto Wolff is hoping for better upgrades in the future. He also thinks that the three races have been extremely helpful for them in understanding their car better.
But there is one thing that Wolff keeps reminding everyone people need to be rational about progress. The new guidelines have been harsh on them, and they need to adapt as soon as possible. Otherwise, even Aston Martin could stroll past them in the rankings.
